People ‘in fear’ of rising living costs claim
‘Working families must not pay price again’
HYNDBURN residents are now ‘living in fear’ of the spiralling cost of living it’s been claimed.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak presented his Spring Statement on Wednesday, under increasing pressure to ease the burden on families caused by hikes in energy and food bills.
Joining these calls, Great Harwood Coun Noordad Aziz said the announcements in the statement would be crucial for businesses and families.
Speaking on the eve of the crunch budget announcement, Coun Aziz said: “Over the last 14 years we have had the longest squeeze on wages for 200 years, and we are now seeing energy bills rising at 14 times the pace of wages,” he said - speaking ahead of the announcement.
“An ever increasing number of residents in Hyndburn are ‘living in fear’ as they see eyewatering rises in the cost of everything from gas and electricity to council tax, to filling their cars and the weekly shop.
“This doesn’t even factor the interest rate rise by the Bank of England which has increased from 0.50% to 0.75%.
“Working families have sacrificed so much, through austerity and then through the pandemic; they must not pay the price again.
“This crisis is now turning into a real choice between ‘heating’ and ‘eating’ as many families can no longer afford both.”
In his Spring Statement the Chancellor Mr Sunak announced measures including a 5p per litre fuel duty cut, increased the threshold at which people start paying national insurance contributions by £3,000, and pledged a penny off income tax by 2024.
He also said he is doubling the Household Support Fund to £1 bil “to do more to help our most vulnerable households with rising costs”.
But Labour shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves said his plan did nothing for people on the edge of fuel poverty or for pensioners who are facing a “real-terms cut” to their income.
The Department for Work and Pensions has given local councils funding to support people who are struggling to afford food, utility bills and other essential items this winter.
Hyndburn Leisure are administering this fund on behalf of the council and are now receiving applications from residents who do not have enough resources to meet their immediate short-term needs and require assistance with essential items over the winter period.
To be eligible for the Hyndburn scheme you must be aged 16 or over and experiencing shortterm financial hardship.
The scheme can help with short-term living costs such as food, gas, electric, water, essential household appliances, household bills and clothing (this is not an exhaustive list). Applicants do not need to be in receipt of benefits to apply for the Household Support Fund, however it is expected that residents are prepared to provide evidence that they do not have the funds themselves to purchase the items requested. For full information visit www.hyndburnleisure.co.uk then under Community select Household Support Fund.